Cong leaders tried to lure Reddys: Sushma

DHNS

Bellary, 20 August 2010: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, on Friday, alleged that a few months ago, ’certain’ Congress leaders attempted persuade the Reddy brothers to defect to their party.   She did not, however disclose the names of those Congress leaders.

Addressing the Jana Jagruti Samavesha, she said she was well aware of the developments that surrounded luring of the Reddys. “I know who made such efforts and when they met the Reddy brothers”, she said. She would reveal the names of Congress leaders to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh or AICC president Sonia Gandhi if they wanted to know.

She gave a hint that the person who made the efforts holds a Constitutional position and it would not be right on her part to disclose the name in public.

Swaraj felt that the Congress leaders wanted to have the Reddys in the Congress so that the dissidence within the Congress party in neighboring Andhra Pradesh could be tackled with their help.

AP next target

The BJP leader said her party has plans to strengthen its base in Andhra Pradesh in years to come. When she performed Lakshmi puja for the first time in Bellary 1999, she had prayed to the goddess to ensure that the BJP came to power in Karnataka at least in next 10 years. Her wish was realized with the Yeddyurappa-led government coming to power in 2008.

She said this time she prayed the goddess to bless the party to come to power in Andhra Pradesh at least in next 10 years.

Not even Rs 11 in 11 years

Sushma Swaraj came down heavily on Congress leaders for making allegations of corruption against her.

Referring to former Minister M P Prakash’s comments at the Congress rally on August 9, wherein he had charged her with visiting bellary on Varamahalakshmi festival day “only to take Lakshmi (wealth) from the Reddys,” she said she could not every think that Prakash could make such comments.

“Forget crores of rupees, I have not taken even Rs 11 from the Reddys in the last 11 years”. She had been visiting Bellary regularly in the last 11 years.

Swaraj said she had her blessings for the Reddys only because they continued her struggle in Bellary. She tried to weaken the Congress in Bellary by contesting against Sonia Gandhi 1999. She could not complete her mission. But the Reddys did it successfully, she said.